Unitary bridge for concrete structure attachments

ABSTRACT

A unitary bridge for attachments to hollow concrete structures, specifically, concrete poles, comprising at least one hollow tubular member spanning the diameter of the structure, having first and second ends embedded in and open to the opposite sides of the poles&#39; walls. The tubular member is internally threaded a sufficient distance from the first and second ends towards the center of the pole to accommodate a bolt, and passes through and is attached to at least one flat vertical support member embedded in the wall at an angle sufficient to conform to the shape of the wall. Preferably, the tubular member passes through and is attached to two such support members, each embedded in opposite sides of the wall. Also embedded in the wall can be multiple annular components, such as helical wire springs or annular bars, and vertical tension strands for structural support.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of a structure having a unitary bridge for attachments, more specifically, a unitary bridge for attachments to concrete poles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The most common method used to attach various types of mountings, structures, arms, braces, hardware, and/or equipment to concrete structures, specifically, concrete utility poles, is by using bolts and nuts. However, this method by itself does not provide a great amount of support for the attachments, and limits the maximum amount of size and weight of the attachment.

The previous method also does not assist the structural integrity of concrete utility poles, which are generally hollow with walls that have a limited capability of withstanding a great amount of torque. Because the nuts and bolts can place pressure on only one relatively small area of the pole, the bolts will degrade the integrity of the concrete at the pressure point and decrease the weight the attachment can be as well as the structure of the pole itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a unitary bridge for concrete structure attachments which strengthens the structures' structural integrity to provide greater support for attachments.

The bridge is comprised of a hollow threaded tubular member made from sufficiently resilient material, such as ASTM A513.The tubular member spans across the diameter of the concrete structure, from outside wall to outside wall, and is embedded into both sides of the structure's wall from one outer surface to the other. Bolts can then be inserted into the tubular member from either side of the structure to secure attachments. The tubular member is threaded typically seven and one-half (7½) inches internally from each end along its length, permitting mounting bolts to penetrate farther into the pole to make the attachments more secure.

Because of the internal threading, there is no need of nuts within the tubular member. This provides the added advantage of distributing the weight of the bolts evenly throughout the tubular member rather than having them attached to a nut at one discreet point along the tubular member. The tubular member allows forces to be distributed along its entire length, and derives strength from the support of the concrete in the structure's wall.

The bridge is further comprised of at least two substantially flat vertical support members that are embedded diametrically opposed to one another in the structure's wall. The support members are made of a sufficiently resilient material such as ASTM A36.Preferably shaped to conform to the structure's wall, these support members optionally can span the entire height of the structure, but can also be shorter if less support is required. The tubular member passes through and is attached to the support members, such as by way of non-limiting example, welding.

As one skilled in the art would appreciate, concrete utility poles typically have annular components located throughout the wall for support, such as multiple helical wire springs and/or annular bars. These annular components can be comprised of steel, and can also assist in supporting the unitary bridge by being proximally located to the tubular member, such as immediately above and below the tubular member in the case of the annular bars, or, in the case of the helical wire springs, situated such that the tubular member is enclosed by one or more of the coils. Preferably, the annular components are placed between the vertical support members and the outside of the pole.

Also as one skilled in the art would appreciate, concrete utility poles typically have numerous vertical steel tension strands. These strands are stretched after the concrete is inserted into the mold but before it hardens, and are then de-stretched after the concrete hardens to “pre-stress” the concrete. When used in conjunction with the unitary bridge, the strands are preferably located within the annular components, such that they are between the annular components and the center axis of the pole.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows, when considered in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross section of one embodiment of the unitary bridge of the present invention wherein the concrete structure is a pole.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tubular members and the support members of the unitary bridge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the tubular members and support members of the unitary bridge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tubular members and support members of the unitary bridge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the tubular members and support members of the unitary bridge of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a top view of a tubular member and support member of the unitary bridge of FIG. 1, showing the angle of the support members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a cross section of the unitary bridge is shown, which comprises a hollow concrete pole 12 with a center axis 14, a hollow tubular member 16 with first 18 and second 20 ends and two vertical steel support members 22, 24. As is customary in pre-stressed concrete utility poles, there are numerous vertical steel tension strands 26, and annular components 30. The tubular member 16 is threaded 27 typically seven and one-half (7½) inches from either end such that bolts (not shown) can be inserted into the pole 12 securely, but preferably at least five and a half (5½) inches of the bolts engage the thread 27. The tubular member 16 extends across the diameter 32 of the pole 12, with the first 18 and second 20 ends embedded in first 34 and second 36 sides of the pole 12 wall 38, extending to and terminating at the pole's 12 outer surface 40.

As one skilled in the art would appreciate, the tubular member 16 can be a multitude of dimensions, but by way of non-limiting example, the tubular member 16 can be one and five-sixteenths (1 5/16^(th)) inches in diameter with five-sixteenths ( 5/16^(th)) inches wall thickness, and thread 27 pitch diameter between 0.8248 and 0.8330 inches. Alternatively, the tubular member 16 can be one and half (1½) inches in diameter with three-eighths (⅜^(th)) inches wall thickness, and thread 27 pitch diameter between 0.9428 to 0.9516 inches. Also as one skilled in the art would appreciate, the pole 12 can be a variety of different sizes and shapes such as, by way of non-limiting examples, square or triangle (not shown), as can the support members 22, 24 to accommodate the shape of the pole 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the tubular member 16 also extends through and is welded to the support members 22, 24, which are located inside the annular component 30 proximal to the center axis 14. The support members 22, 24 are substantially flat and bent (shown) or curved (not shown) at an angle sufficient to conform to the shape of the pole 12. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, for a round pole 12, the support members 22, 24 preferably form a 160 degree angle, and are bent such that they point away from the axis 14 of the pole 12 and towards the pole wall 40.

As one skilled in the art can appreciate, there can be more than one tubular member 16, 17 per pole and per set of support members 22, 24 depending on the desired number of attachments (not shown). Also as one skilled in the art can appreciate, the support members 22, 24 can be a multitude of different sizes and lengths, but are preferably are ¼th inch by 4 inches in dimension, and span the entire height of the pole 12. Alternatively, the support members 22, 24 can extend six (6) inches above and below the tubular member 16.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the vertical strands 26 preferably span the entire height of the pole 12 and are variably spaced by design from one another for structural integrity. For added support, strands 26 are placed immediately on either side of the support members 22, 24. In this embodiment, the use of eight strands is depicted, but less or more can be used as desired for structural support requirements.

There can be a multitude (not shown) of annular components 30 throughout the height of the pole 12, but there is preferably an annular bar immediately above (not shown) and below 30 the tubular member 16, or an annular helical spring (not shown) encompassing the tubular member 16

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A structure comprising: a tubular pole having a wall formed between an inside and outside surface thereof; a tubular member having opposing first and second ends; an internally threaded surface, wherein the tubular member extends transversely through the pole.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the structure is comprised of concrete.
 3. The structure of claim 1, further comprising at least one support member embedded in the wall, wherein the tubular member passes through and is attached to the support member.
 4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the support member comprises a shape sufficient for conforming to the shape of the wall.
 5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the support member is flat.
 6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the support member comprises a flat bar bent at a one hundred and sixty degree (160°) angle.
 7. The structure of claim 1, further comprising two support members embedded in opposing wall portions, wherein the tubular member passes through and is attached to each support member.
 8. The structure of claim 7, further comprising at least one annular component embedded in the wall.
 9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the annular component comprises at least one of the following: helical wire spring or annular bar.
 10. The structure of claim 8, wherein the support member is between the annular component and the inside wall.
 11. The structure of claim 10, wherein the annular component comprises a helical wire spring, the coils of which are immediately above and below the tubular member.
 12. The structure of claim 1, further comprising at least one vertical strand embedded in the wall.
 13. The structure of claim 8, further comprising at least one vertical strand embedded in the wall.
 14. The structure of claim 13, wherein the at least one annular component and at least one vertical strand comprises a plurality of annular components and strands.
 15. A structure comprising: a tubular pole having a wall formed between an inside and outside surface thereof; a tubular member having opposing first and second ends and an internally threaded surface, wherein the tubular member extends transversely through the pole; and two support members embedded in opposing wall portions, wherein the tubular member passes through and is attached to each support member.
 16. The structure of claim 15, wherein the structure is comprised of concrete.
 17. The structure of claim 15, wherein the support member comprises a shape sufficient for conforming to the shape of the wall.
 18. The structure of claim 15, wherein the support member is flat.
 19. The structure of claim 18, wherein the support member comprises a flat bar bent at a one hundred and sixty degree (160°) angle.
 20. The structure of claim 15, further comprising at least one annular component embedded in the wall.
 21. The structure of claim 20, wherein the annular component comprises at least one of the following: helical wire spring or annular bar.
 22. The structure of claim 21, wherein the support member is between the annular component and the inside wall.
 23. The structure of claim 15, further comprising at least one vertical strand embedded in the wall.
 24. The structure of claim 20, further comprising at least one vertical strand embedded in the wall.
 25. The structure of claim 24, wherein the at least one annular component and at least one vertical strand comprises a plurality of annular components and strands. 